We all know that feeling; you’ve committed to a full day of studying and gone into it with the best intentions. You start off strong. For the first couple of hours, you’re locked in on what you need to learn, but suddenly, your focus begins to dwindle. Your eyes begin to ache from the blue light, and before long, you’re inventing little tasks that allow you to procrastinate. When the end of the day finally hits, you don’t really have much to show for it, despite having sat at your workstation for five-plus hours. It’s not an uncommon occurrence, but most of us don’t understand the real cause: a lack of study breaks.
Knowing when your body is telling you to take a study break (or, in essence, to chill out) can be the difference between absorbing the information you’re studying or wasting a whole day staring at paper. Taking a break from work shouldn’t make you feel lazy; rather, it’s the total opposite. Taking regular study breaks actually makes you more productive. However, it can take a little practice to know when your body is asking for one.
What’s in This Article?
- What is a Study Break?
- Why are Study Breaks So Important?
- What’s the Difference Between a Study Break and a Career Break?
- Five Signs That It’s Time for a Study Break
- Study Break Tips and Tricks
- Study Break FAQs
What is a Study Break?
Before jumping into the nitty-gritty of study breaks, it’s important that you understand what a study break actually is! In short, they’re periods of rest between studying that reduce the risk of burnout or stress. Moreover, you’re much more likely to take in information when you’re not feeling overwhelmed, so it’s super beneficial to include some study breaks in your study plan! If you still feel like pushing through and forgoing your next study break, check out these additional benefits that we (really) hope will inspire you:
They Leave You Feeling Energised
It’s easy to feel run-down, burnt-out and exhausted when you’re working nonstop for hours on end. However, when these long spells aren’t broken up by regular study breaks, they can easily lead to burnout. Taking a break from work will re-energise you and get you ready to hit your study goals!
They Reduce Stress
Working nonstop can leave you feeling frazzled, rushed, and in general, not very good. By planning regular study breaks into your study schedule, you’ll reduce stress and feel less guilty about taking some hard-earned time off.
They Help You Absorb Information
According to the National Institutes of Health, taking regular study breaks helps you retain information much easier, as the resting brain replays what was just learned until it sinks in. So, taking 10 minutes away from your desk is actually a super-productive choice!
Why are Study Breaks So Important?
Research suggests that taking deliberate, purposeful study breaks can leave you feeling much more refreshed, focused and ready to learn. What’s more, these benefits begin to occur after just five minutes of rest, so you don’t need to take half the day off to get yourself feeling better! However, the benefits don’t end there. Periods of rest also help keep your immune system healthy and happy, and returning to work with a clear head allows for heightened creativity (so you can try approaching your task from new angles)! Essentially, there are a tonne of benefits to taking a break from work, so it’s time to start prioritising study breaks!
What’s the Difference Between a Study Break and a Career Break?
While study breaks and career breaks sound like similar concepts, they’re actually super different. The former relates to taking between 10-60 minutes away from your workstation to clear your head and get ready for your next study stint, while the latter refers to taking an extended period of time away from work. Since we’ve already covered what a study break is, the best way to illustrate the difference between the two is to provide a definition for ‘career break.’ Essentially, A career break is unpaid leave from work that lasts longer than 2 months. When you take a career break, you also don’t have a job lined up for when you return (unlike a sabbatical).
Five Signs That It’s Time for a Study Break
So, you’ve recognised the importance of study breaks, now all you need is to figure out when you actually need to take one. After all, there’s a fine line between taking a well-deserved break and pulling into the procrastination station. If you can’t quite tell which category you fall into, keep your eyes out for these seven signs that it’s time to step away:
#1 You Keep Finding Reasons to Procrastinate
You sit down, stare at your screen with every intention to write and then, BAM! You’re hit with an overwhelming urge to do your washing. Once that’s done, you return to your desk only to realise you desperately need to make yourself a tea. Before long, it’s the end of the day and you have absolutely nothing to show for it. If this is the case, a decent study break could solve your procrastination problems. It’s better to take a planned break from work than spend your whole day taking unintentional ones!
#2 Your To-Do List Just. Keeps. Growing!
Sometimes when we forget to take study breaks, it’s not our grades that suffer, but our personal lives. If your laundry and dishes are piling up, you haven’t cooked yourself a meal in days, and the Uber Eats receipts are too scary to look at, it’s likely because you’re not giving yourself enough you-time. By taking regular study breaks (and planning ahead), you’ll have more time to look after yourself and do the things you want to do. In short, it’s a win-win!
#3 The Day is Speeding Past (And Not in a Good Way!)
You know when you’re being super productive and the day flies by quicker than you ever thought possible? It feels great, but unfortunately, that’s not what we’re talking about here. Rather, when you’re in desperate need of a study break, it can feel like the day is slipping through your fingers (and trust us, it’s super stressful). Common procrastination methods like doom-scrolling can cause the day to speed past you like this, but by simply taking a break from work, you’ll feel refreshed and can avoid losing all that time!
#4 Your Social Life is Taking a Hit
When you feel like you’re studying 24/4 but making little to no progress, it’s easy to believe that you don’t have time for a social life (when this definitely isn’t true). Rather, it’s super important to maintain your positive relationships and ensure you’re not missing out on core memories with friends. There’s even a way to combine socialising with studying: starting a study group! This way, you can hold each other accountable and ensure that regular study breaks are being taken.
#5 You’re Experiencing More Headaches Than Usual
A sure-fire sign of stress (and potentially, burnout) is to experience more headaches than you’re used to. Instead of taking a daily Panadol, it’s important to address the problem at the root cause: a lack of study breaks. By taking a break from work, your nervous system will calm down, and your body will be able to tackle physical issues much easier. Trust us, it’s worth it for your overall wellbeing! 
Study Break Tips
We’re almost there, team! You’ve learned why study breaks are so important, how to figure out when you need one, and the final step is discovering study break tips to make your rest as productive as possible (and yes, we know that sounds like a contradiction)! The secret to taking productive breaks from work is that not all study break activities are created equal. That is, there are some strategies that will leave you feeling refreshed and others that will make you feel like you haven’t had a break at all! Some of the not-so-productive activities to do on your study break are:
- Doom-Scrolling on Social Media
- Watching Netflix
- Playing a Video Game
- Taking a Nap
- Eating Junk Food
We promise we’re not trying to be the ‘fun police’ by banning these. It’s simply that using media, sleeping for short periods, or eating unhealthy foods will make you more tired and less likely to return to work! Instead, try out some of these healthy activities that are bound to leave you feeling refreshed and re-energised:
- Go For a Walk
- Cook Something Healthy and Delicious
- Make Yourself a Tea
- Listen to Music
- Call a Friend
And if you need some extra help with studying, simply head over to our article covering 11 study hacks to keep you focused!
Study Break FAQs
To conclude our lesson on study breaks, we’re breaking (get it, like study break?) down all your burning questions and leaving no stone unturned!
Question: Are Study Breaks Important?
Answer: Study breaks are super important! They reduce the risk of high-stress levels, burnout, low mood and a lack of focus. They also help you absorb the information you’re studying more effectively.
Question: How Long Should I Study Before Taking a Break?
Answer: To avoid burnout, you should take a study break every 45-60 minutes. This way, you won’t be feeling overworked, and it will make it easier to study for longer periods overall.
Question: What Shouldn’t I Do During Study Breaks?
Answer: While taking a study break, you should avoid media like social media, video games, and television. These activities will only make you more tired and sap your motivation.
Question: How to Take a Good Study Break?
Answer: Maximise the effectiveness of your study break by getting outside, unplugging, and moving your body. That way, you’ll come back to your workstation feeling refreshed.
On The Hunt for More School Advice?
Now that you know the secret to maximising your effectiveness when studying, we think you’re ready to tackle any other school-related issue you might have trouble with. Take our top tips and become the best version of you by heading over to our blog for plenty more helpful career advice!
